Sam Crawford: Baseball’s Triples Machine

Sam Crawford: Baseball’s Triples Machine

Sam Crawford: Triples Machine

Nicknamed “Wahoo Sam,” right fielder and first baseman Sam Crawford was one of the most skilled players ever to play the game of baseball. He isn’t mentioned in the same breath as more popular players like Babe Ruth or his teammate Ty Cobb. Still, Sam Crawford played a pivotal role in the game by mastering a more difficult feat. What was this feat? It was none other than the “three-bagger,” or the triple.

Compared to the single, the double and even the home run, the triple is the hardest type of hit to record. It requires precise hitting to certain parts of a ballpark, savvy baserunning skills and, most of all, good speed. Crawford had all three in spades.

Early Years With the Cincinnati Reds

Crawford began his baseball career with the Cincinnati Reds and played in Cincinnati from 1899 to 1902. Over his first four years combined, Crawford played in 403 games. In 1,586 at-bats, he batted .312 with 26 home runs, 261 RBIs, 495 hits, 56 doubles and 49 stolen bases, along with a .361 on-base percentage, a .474 slugging percentage and an .835 OPS. Crawford hit 60 triples in those four years, with totals of 7, 15, 16 and 22 by season.

A Long Stay With the Detroit Tigers

Establishing Himself in the Motor City

In 1903, Crawford moved north to play for the Detroit Tigers, and he would go on to enjoy a long stay in the Motor City. Playing in 137 games, Crawford batted .335 with 89 RBIs, 184 hits, 23 doubles, 25 triples and 18 stolen bases, posting a .366 on-base percentage, a .489 slugging percentage and an .855 OPS. In 1904, Crawford played in 150 games and had 73 RBIs, 143 hits, 22 doubles, 16 triples and 20 stolen bases. As his later seasons would show, 1904 was a down year by Crawford’s standards.

Playing in 154 games in 1905, Crawford batted .297 with 75 RBIs, 171 hits, 38 doubles, 10 triples and 22 stolen bases, posting a .357 on-base percentage, a .430 slugging percentage and a .786 OPS. Playing in 145 games in 1906, he batted .295 with 72 RBIs, 166 hits, 25 doubles, 16 triples and 24 stolen bases, posting a .747 OPS. In 1907, Crawford played in 144 games and batted .323 with 81 RBIs, 188 hits, 34 doubles, 17 triples and 18 stolen bases, posting a .366 on-base percentage, a .460 slugging percentage and an .826 OPS.

Playing in 152 games in 1908, Crawford batted .311 with 80 RBIs, 184 hits, 33 doubles, 16 triples and 15 stolen bases, posting a .355 on-base percentage, a .457 slugging percentage and an .812 OPS. In 1909, he played in 156 games and batted .314 with 97 RBIs, 185 hits, 35 doubles, 14 triples and 30 stolen bases, posting a .366 on-base percentage, a .452 slugging percentage and an .817 OPS. In 1910, Crawford played in 154 games and batted .289 with 120 RBIs, 170 hits and 26 doubles, and he led the American League with 19 triples. He also had 20 stolen bases and a .756 OPS.

Peak Seasons From 1911 to 1914

1911 was the start of a great three-year run for Wahoo Sam. He played in 146 games and batted .378 with 115 RBIs, 217 hits, 36 doubles, 14 triples and 37 stolen bases, posting a .438 on-base percentage, a .526 slugging percentage and a .964 OPS. In 1912, Crawford played in 149 games and batted .325 with 109 RBIs, 189 hits, 30 doubles, 21 triples and 42 stolen bases, posting a .470 slugging percentage and an .843 OPS. In 1913, he played in 153 games and batted .317 with 83 RBIs, 193 hits and 32 doubles, and he led the American League with 23 triples. Crawford also had 13 stolen bases, a .489 slugging percentage and an .860 OPS.

Playing in 157 games in 1914, Crawford batted .314 with 104 RBIs, 183 hits and 22 doubles, and he once again led the American League in triples with 26. He also recorded 25 stolen bases, a .388 on-base percentage, a .483 slugging percentage and an .871 OPS. His full year-by-year numbers are available on Baseball-Reference.

In the MVP Conversation

When it came to American League Most Valuable Player voting, Sam Crawford was very much in the mix for four consecutive years. His best shot came in 1914, when he finished second, just behind another great player, second baseman Eddie Collins of the Philadelphia Athletics. From 1911 to 1913, Crawford finished tied for 14th in AL MVP voting.

The Final Seasons

The last great year of Crawford’s career came in 1915, when he played 156 games and batted .299 with 112 RBIs, 183 hits and 31 doubles, and yet again led the American League in triples with 19. He also recorded 24 stolen bases and a .799 OPS. Crawford finally began to decline in 1916, playing in only 100 games and batting .286 with 92 hits, 11 doubles and 13 triples. The decline was complete in 1917, the final season of his 19-year career, when he managed a mere 18 hits in 61 games. Crawford had zero triples in 1917.

Legacy of a True Triples Machine

Based on a 162-game average, Crawford was remarkably steady, averaging 20 triples and 24 stolen bases per season. He played alongside “The Georgia Peach,” Ty Cobb, who had an uncanny ability to steal home plate. Crawford was also outstanding on the base paths, and the dynamic duo put an immense amount of pressure on opposing defenses. Crawford finished his great career with 309 triples, 14 more than Cobb’s 295. No player in recent years has come anywhere close to challenging the record of the man considered a true triples machine. For more on his life and career, see his SABR biography.